The Rector of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Professor N. R. Reini Djuhraeni Wirahadikusumah, visited UGM. The meeting took place in the UGM Rector’s office, where she was welcomed by Professor Ova Emilia.
“This visit to UGM is truly for fostering relationships. UGM has greatly assisted ITB from the time of the previous rector to the current leadership of Professor Ova,” said Rector Wirahadikusumah on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
Rector Wirahadikusumah acknowledged that leaders of higher education institutions often communicate to discuss matters that need joint coordination.
It is essential to coordinate on various issues faced by both institutions, particularly between ITB and UGM, as fellow members of state universities with legal entities (PTN-BH).
For her, both UGM and ITB need to engage in cross-coordination among PTN-BH. She referred to UGM as a place of inquiry.
“Universities in Indonesia should indeed collaborate to address various national issues,” she stated.
She noted that through mutual visits, each university becomes aware of the problems faced by the other and seeks solutions together.
Thus, both are accustomed to routine matters involving education, research, and community service and still require a cooperative framework that synergizes their strengths to develop new programs that benefit students at both campuses.
Rector Ova Emilia echoed this sentiment. According to her, Rector Wirahadikusumah’s visit aims to strengthen cooperation with UGM.
Many collaborations have occurred among researchers of the two institutions.
“Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a specific MoU at the university level. Therefore, both wish to increase mutually beneficial and complementary cooperation,” she revealed.
Rector Emilia cited the enrichment of programs at ITB, which primarily focuses on engineering fields, contrasting with UGM, which also offers studies in social sciences, health, and agricultural sciences.
A close partnership between the two campuses is anticipated for downstream collaboration.
She hopes that this collaboration will strengthen the synergy between the two campuses.
“As a concrete step, they are discussing specific programs that both campuses will support, which will eventually lead to formalizing an agreement for cooperation,” she explained.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang
Photographer: Firsto